KARMIC BOND (2)
A cold voice cut through the air.
“Excuse me.”
Road manager Kwak Junsung flinched, his entire body shaking.
'Did he call my name?'
No, but...
He had done nothing to earn anyone's grudge, so it couldn't possibly be him.
Kwak Junsung thought this and kept walking without turning back.
Right then—
Tap.
Someone grabbed his shoulder.
The vise-like grip made his shoulder ache.
"Some bastard..."
Kwak Junsung scowled and turned his head.
The instant their eyes met, a chill raced down his spine.
"Fr, Producer-nim."
Park Siwoo stood with his back to the darkness, staring down at him with a face as cold and rigid as ice.
Click.
The hand gripping his shoulder tightened even more.
Kwak Junsung writhed in agony, but he couldn't shake it off.
It was an overwhelming grip.
To that degree, Park Siwoo's fury had reached its limit.
"Ah, aaak!"
In the end, a scream tore from Kwak Junsung's throat.
As he twisted his body, the arm that had been draped around Lee Haneul's shoulder naturally loosened.
Lee Haneul quickly slipped away from him.
Even while still pressing down on Kwak Junsung's shoulder, Siwoo said,
"Come behind me."
"Yes, yes!"
She hurried to his side and clutched his clothes tightly.
Her hands trembled so violently that it was transmitted through the fabric.
This only intensified Siwoo's rage.
"Ah, aaak! Let go!"
A menacing vein bulged on his slightly exposed forearm.
Seeing this, Kwak Junsung's face drained of all color.
He was tall, but he had thought he was just some ordinary office worker.
He was truly a beast.
He hid his overwhelming muscle mass beneath his suit.
"Fortunately, there are CCTV cameras here."
Siwoo growled in a low voice.
Kwak Junsung trembled violently.
His face had completely lost all courage.
"Haneul-ah, are you alright?"
Siwoo asked while still pinning him down.
Lee Haneul answered in a voice thick with tears.
"Hic...! I'm okay..."
She was lying.
She was crying.
Siwoo let out a deep sigh.
Then he lifted his phone with his free hand.
Since the evidence and circumstances were clear, he had planned to send him to the police.
But—
"Wait a second."
Lee Haneul stopped him.
"Don't report this to the police."
"Huh?"
Siwoo finally showed a hint of surprise.
Of course he would.
Why would she say not to report to the police?
To understand her intentions, Siwoo looked up.
The moment he examined her face, he flinched.
Her eyes were filled with fear.
'What is she afraid of?'
Revenge?
No, it didn't seem like that.
'Could it be...'
A thought suddenly flashed across Siwoo's mind.
"Haneul-ah, are you worried about not being able to debut?"
"..."
Her pupils trembled faintly.
It seemed he had guessed correctly.
Siwoo let out a deep sigh.
"Debut will proceed as scheduled. Don't worry."
"But..."
"I am a producer. I have no intention of wasting Haneul-ah's talent."
"..."
Lee Haneul fell silent.
Taking this as agreement, Siwoo turned on his phone and called the police.
"Haneul-ah, get into my car."
"A-are you sure it's okay?"
"I'm sure. Don't worry. First, calm yourself."
"...Yes."
Lee Haneul walked non-stop toward Siwoo's car.
Even until the end, she kept glancing back at him with visible fear.
'She was that desperate.'
It was only natural. Many trainees challenged and failed in the idol world.
This man had probably exploited that desperate heart.
A piece of trash.
Siwoo tightened his grip on Kwak Junsung's shoulder even more.
"Ah, aaa!"
After giving the bastard his due punishment, he waited for the police.
The police arrived quickly.
"For now, let's all go and talk."
The police, after hearing the rough situation, said quietly.
Siwoo nodded.
"Kwak Junsung, come with us."
"I didn't sexually assault a minor! I really didn't! Rather, that person assaulted me!"
"Let's discuss that when we go together."
The police shoved the noisy Kwak Junsung into the car.
Then, turning his back, he said to Siwoo.
"You can follow us."
"Yes."
Siwoo nodded.
Inside the car heading to the police station.
Siwoo called Cha Yeseung, the representative.
[Hello.]
"Representative."
[What's the matter? Weren't you going to see the debut group members?]
"Yes, I checked thoroughly."
[Really? How are the kids?]
"They're good. Their visuals are good, and their dance lines are fine too."
[Is that so? They're kids picked by the department head with all his heart. But, what is the reason for the call? It doesn't seem like you were reporting.]
"Yes, I'm on my way to the police station now."
[...Huh?]
Cha Yeseung's reaction was about a second late.
It was understandable.
Anyone would be surprised if a producer suddenly called about going to the police station.
[Why?]
"Do you know sub-vocalist Lee Haneul from the debut group?"
[Of course, the pretty one.]
"She was sexually harassed."
[...]
Cha Yeseung's voice disappeared.
Instead, it was Lee Haneul who responded.
"M-me, Producer-nim. If you say it like that..."
She still seemed worried that she might not be able to debut because of this matter.
Siwoo sighed.
"Haneul-ah."
"Yes, yes..."
"Haneul-ah is the victim. He is the perpetrator. You have no reason to be anxious. Go to the police station, tell the truth, and it's over. We will not cause any disadvantage to Haneul-ah because of this matter."
"..."
Although he said that, Lee Haneul's expression was still not good.
'Nothing I can do.'
Siwoo decided to use his last resort.
He switched his phone from call mode to speaker mode.
"If you don't mind, can you get the representative's permission?"
Then Cha Yeseung answered.
[Why do I need to give you permission? You're the representative.]
"Huh?"
This time, the one surprised was Siwoo.
Had the handover already ended?
[The internal meeting is over. We're proceeding with the contract as discussed earlier. However, the stock transfer takes some time, the procedures are complicated. Anyway, congratulations on becoming the representative, CEO Park.]
"...Thank you, Representative."
[It's all thanks to you. Anyway, Lunatics will also come under you. Who to pick is up to you.]
"That means..."
[I'll comfort Haneul well. I'll handle the legal procedures. I'll try not to expose it to the media.]
"I understand."
[Yes, then.]
Click.
The call ended.
Siwoo let out a sigh.
He really became the representative.
That meant 30 billion won in equity fell into his hands.
Siwoo swallowed hard.
With that money, it was an amount where he might even consider retirement.
Of course, Siwoo wouldn't retire, but with such a huge sum, he felt a slight thrill.
'I need to earn more.'
Siwoo pushed that thought far away.
Since he was sure to marry Lee Yena, 30 billion alone was insufficient.
It would be stupid to not row the oars when water is coming in and just jump off the boat.
'I have to do as much as I can.'
Anyway, right now, that wasn't important.
Siwoo took the opportunity when the signal was on to look at Haneul.
She looked a bit surprised.
Of course, since the producer right next to her had been promoted to representative, it was natural to be surprised.
Looking at her with wide eyes, Siwoo smiled faintly.
"How do you feel? Now you believe a little?"
"Yes, yes..."
"Haneul-ah, I'll take responsibility and debut you, so don't worry too much, okay?"
Only then did Haneul's face brighten.
How happy she was, her round eyes began to water.
'What is she crying for.'
Siwoo took out a handkerchief.
"Don't cry, stop."
"Hic, yes..."
After comforting Haneul like this, they arrived at the police station.
Siwoo and Haneul entered inside following the police's guidance.
"Since she's an idol trainee, if it gets out, it will be a bit..."
"Then come this way."
Following Siwoo's words, the police led the way.
Following him, a small room appeared.
It was probably the interrogation room.
"So, what happened?"
After sitting down, the police asked.
Kwak Junsung shouted loudly.
"Well, that man!"
It was a performance of nonsense.
Siwoo said he assaulted him, or that he came out for a night walk with Haneul.
Siwoo sneered.
It was shameless to that extent.
"Then, what is Lee Haneul's opinion?"
This time, the police asked Haneul.
Startled, she trembled.
Because her tense expression was evident, Siwoo said quietly.
"It will be hard, but you have to tell the truth."
"I understand."
She nodded slightly.
Following that, the words that came out of her mouth shocked everyone.
When Haneul was a newly debuted trainee, her mother had an accident and became paralyzed from the waist.
Currently, the aftereffects were severe, and she seemed to be receiving treatment at the hospital.
Since it was a single-parent household without a father, she had used all the money she had saved for her mother's treatment.
So, Haneul had tried desperately to become an idol.
Originally, she had given up, but her mother had said she wanted to see her on TV.
But—
"That person blackmailed me. If I don't have sex, they'll eliminate me from the debut group. So, I had no choice but to go to the motel today."
"I took photos. Of me entering the motel with Haneul."
Siwoo took out his phone and showed it to the police officer.
Since it was a photo taken while waiting to go to a bright place, both of their appearances were clearly captured.
Including the impure hand going towards Haneul's chest area.
Clunk.
The police officer stood up from his seat.
Since it was a serious issue of minor sexual assault, he could arrest him as a live offender.
There was irrefutable evidence, so there was no reason to hesitate.
"I am arresting you as a live offender. You can appoint a lawyer, but don't bother!"
Thus, Kwak Junsung was arrested.
He would now have a deep legal battle with Starlight's law firm team.
Of course, this matter would be thoroughly classified as secret.
"Haneul-ah, thank you for your hard work. You really worked hard."
"No, rather, I should thank the representative. If it weren't for the representative, hic..."
She cried again.
What to do about this.
Siwoo, who had been standing awkwardly in front of her, let out a deep sigh.
Then he approached her and patted her back.
"You worked hard."
"Yes... thank you. I will really work hard and succeed."
"Good. I'll be looking forward to it."
She wiped her tears and shouted.
"I will succeed!"
"We'll do our best to help you succeed."
"Thank you!"
She shouted cheerfully.
Only then did she seem to return to her original self, and a smile came to Siwoo's face.
"Let's go back for now. I'll take you home."
Siwoo took Haneul to the dorm.
"I will really succeed! Really!"
"Haha."
After barely calming her who was making a fuss, Siwoo let out another sigh.
'Should I go see Yena-ah?'
On the way back, I should buy some red bean bread that she likes.
Thinking this, he started the car engine.
Ding!
A notification came.
Checking the phone, it was.
[Guitar Hero-nim, the sponsorship money is ready. About 2 billion won.]
It was a message from Mio.